Current shut-off mechanism



July 19, 1932. T. M. PAUL 1,868,365

CURRENT ASHUT-OFF MECHANI SM Filed Jan. 15. 1952 2 sheets-sneer 2 masMPaul Patented July 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS M. PAUL, OF ST.JOSEPH, MISSOURI CURRENT SHUT-OFF MECHANISM Application led January 15,1932. Serial No. 586,793.

This invention relates to current shut-off mechanism designed primarilyfor use 1n connection with automobiles and aeroplanes of that typeincluding an ignition system for motors of the internal combustion type,but it is to be understood that a mechanism in accordance with thisinvention may be employed in any connection for which it is foundapplicable, and the invention has for 19 its object to automatically andinstantly shut-off all current, when the vehicle collides with or isstruck by an external obstruction thereby discontinuing the `operationof the motor and preventing the ignition ofthe motor fuel to reduce to aminimum the possibility of a conflagration. v

Further objects of the invention are to provide a mechanism of the classreferred to for the purpose set forth which is compartively simple inits construction and arrangement, strong. durable, compact, thoroughlyefficient in its use, automatic and expeditious in its action to openthe ignition circuit, readily installed with respect to the vehicle, andcomparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially and others which may hereinafter appear.the invention consist-s of such parts and sach combination of partswhich fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shut-oft mechanism in accordance withthis invention,

7 the mechanism being illustrated as releasably latched in circuitclosing position.

Figure 2 is a section online 2-2 F igure 1. f

Figure 3 is a fragment-ary view in side 4i elevation of the mechanism incurrent shutolf position.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4--4 Figure 1. Figure 5 is a section online Figure 1. Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 Figure 2. The ioorboard of a vehicle is indicated at 1 and formed with an opening 2.Mounted on the board 1 is a latching device functioningfor resetting themechanism in circuit closing position..

The latching device includes a vertically disposed resilient latch 3having its upper portion enlarged, as at 4 t0 provide a shoulder 5intermediate the top and bottom of latch 3, and the latter has a rightangularly disposed flange 6 at its bottom which is fix- 55 edly securedto board 1. The rear face of portion 4 is curved as at 7 Secured uponboard 1 and spaced from latch 3 is a verticalsupport 8 carrying a rockshaft 9 to which is secured a lever 10 extending towards 60 latch 3. Tothe shaft 9 is also secured an upstanding forwardly inclined crank arm11 formed at its upper end with a slot 12 extending lengthwise thereof.The lever 10 is of a length to extend below shoulder 5, 05 and thelatter normally maintains the lever in parallel spaced relation withrespect to board 1 and with arm 11 elevated.k Secured upon lever 10, inproximity to its rear end 18 is a foot tread 14. The spacing of t-herear end of tread 14 Ifrom the rear end 13 of lever 10 provides a ledge15 which coacts with shoulder 5 to normally maintain the mechanism inthe position shown in Figure 1, which is circuit closing position.Arranged below the boa-rd 1 is a casing 16 constructed in a mannerwhereby access can be readily had thereto, when occasion requires. Thetop 17 of casing 16 is formed with openings 18, 19 and a slot 20, thelat- 80 ter being arranged in proximity to the forward. wall 21 ofcasing 16. The bottom 22 of casing 16 is depressed, as at 23 to providea concave recess 24 which opens into the casing. S5 Fixedly secured uponthe upper face of bottom 22 and to the rear face of forward wall 21,aswell as being spaced from top 17 is a stationary support 25 formed ofa vertical arm 26, an upper arm 27 extending rear- 9 wardly at rightangles-to the upper end of arm 26 and a lower arm 28, of greater lengththan arm 27 and extending rearwardly at right angles to the lower end ofarm 26. The arm 28 in proximity to its rear end is provided with anopening 29 having a curved wall forming an upward curved continuation ofthe wall of recess 24. Integral with the upper face of arm 28 is acollar 30 having a curved inner edge forming an upwardly curvedcontinuation of the wall of opening 29. The recess 24, wall of opening29 and inner edge of collar 30 provides a socket of a contour greaterthan half a sphere. Secured to the arm 27 and suitably insulatedtherefrom'are spaced binding posts 31, 32 having their lower endsprovided with contacts 33, 34 respectively. Leading from post 31 is aground connection 35. Leading to post 32 is the ground connection 36from the battery, as well as the ground connection 37 from the magnetoor generator.

Hinged, as at 38 to the arm 26 of support 25, between its transversemedian and its upper end is a hinged circuit controlling device 39formed of a bar having a pair of portions 40, 41, the former being ofless length, depending from and disposed at right angles to the latter.The portion 40 has its lower part 42l in the form of an inverted cup.The portion 41 is of triangular cross section to form its lower facewith a knife edge 43. Secured upon the upper face of portion 41,disposed lengthwise with respect to and extending upwardly from thelatter is a resilient U-shaped conductor member 44 having the upper endsof the sides thereof formed with oppositely disposed projections 45, 46for coacting with the contacts 33, 34 respectively for closing theignition circuit. The

' member 44 is insulated from portion 41. The

holdfast means for securing member 44 to portion 41 is indicated at 47.Extending laterally from each side 48 of portion 41 is a pin 49. Thepurpose of the pins 49 will be presently referred to.

A tiltable counter-balanced holder element 49 employed for normallysupporting the dei ice 39, at right angles to arm 26 for maintainingconductor member 44 in engagement will; contacts 33, 34 for closing theignition cirfz'nit. The element 49 includes a shank 50 forium? at itsupper end integral concentrically n ith the bottom of a weight 5l havinga conn-X top 52 for extension into the cupshaped part 42 to maintain thedevice 39 in normal position, as shown in Figure 1. The clement 49 alsoincludes a base 52 formed of a globular bottom part 53, a taperedintermediate part 54 and an upper part 55 of ciwular cross section. Theshank 50 extends into the base to the bottom part 53 of the latter. Thepart 53 is positioned in cavity 24, opening 29 and collar 30. The socketformed by cavity 24, opening 29 and collar 30 coacts with the globularbottom part 53 to provide a universal joint connection between element449 and arm 28 of support 25. The parts 54 and 55 of the base 52 havealigning bores 56 to receive shank 50. That end of smallest diameter ofthe part 54 is integral with part 53.

The mechanism includes .a vertically movable, gravity lowering combinedretainer and shifter element 57 functioning to reset the holder elementin a perpendicular position for supporting the circuit controllingdevice in its normal position and simultaneously with resetting theholder element shifts the circuit controlling device to a position toenable the latter to be supported by the holder element. The element 57is capable of being shifted to and held in an elevated position by thelatching device, and when in such position retains the element 49perpendicular.

The element 57 includes a vertically disposed rectangular frame 58formed centrallyI of its top with an upstanding arm 59 provided with alateral pin 60 which is slidably mounted in slot 12 of arm 1l wherebythe latter is connected to arm 59. The frame 58 extends through slot 2.The side bars 61 of frame 58 pass through openings 62 formed in arm 27and are arranged at the sides of the portion 41 of device 39.'Projecting from the side bars 6l are cam-pieces 63 having inclined endedges 64 which ride against pins 49 for the purpose of elevating device39 to its normal position. Formed integrally with the lower end of frame58 and disposed at right angles lthereto is a retainer arm 65 having anenlarged circularportion 66 at its free end which encompasses element49. The portion 66 has a circular opening 67 of a diameter greater thancollar 30 and of a diameter slightly greater than the top of base 52 ofelement 49', the latter extends through opening 67. The arm 65, whenelement 57 is elevated, moves element 49 to a perpendicular position tosupport device 39 in circuit closing position. Guides 68 and 69 areintegral with `support 25 for element 57. A reinforcing web 70 isprovided for element 57. The guides 68 and 69 also reinforce support 25.The casing 16 is secu. ed in position by any suitable means. Thekniffedge 43 on portion 41 of device 39 functions to prevent theretarding of element 49 when the latter is shifted from normal in adirec tion under portion 41 due to the fact that the upper end of weight51 of element 49 is of convex curvature and will readily shift away fromedge 43.

The universal joint connection between element 49 and arm 28 of support25 permits element 49 to rotate around the edge of the socket in whichbottom part 53 of base 52 is arranged. The element 49 can move to theright, left, forward or backward when it is released, due to itscounter-balance, which is the weight 5l.

The circuit closing device includes a controlling spring 71 of thepulling type. The spring 71 is disposed at an inclination and has oneend attached to the lower face of portion 41 of the bar of the circuitcontrolling device and its other end attached to part 26 of support 25.The function of spring 71 is to maintain the conductor member 44 clearof contacts 33, 34 when the circuit closing device is not supported incircuit closing position by the holder element.

Under normal conditions elements 39 and 49 are in the position shown inFigure 1 and element 57 in the position shown in Figure 3.

lIn Figure 1 element 57 has been shifted to resetting position withrespect to elements 39 and 57. The weight of 4element 49 coacts with thecup 42 of element 39 for the purpose of releasably maintaining element49 in a perpendicular position and with spring 71 assisting in suchfunction.

When the elements 39 and 49 are in the position as shown in Figure 1 andthe element 57 in the position shown in Figure 3 and a jolt is received,the inertia throws the weight 51 clear of the cup 42 and spring 71acting upon portion 41 will shift the circuit controlling device clearof the contacts 33 and 34 shutting off the current. The normal positionof the element 57 is as shown in Figure 3. Now it will be assumed thatthe position of elements 39 and 49 are as shown in Figure 3 and whenpressure is applied to lever 10, element 57 will then be elevated andarm 65 thereof will cause element 49 to assume a perpendicular positionand the cams cause element 39 to assume the position shown in Figure 1,against the action of its controlling spring 71. The element 57 when itis elevated resets the elements 39 and 49 to the position shown inFigure 1 whereby the 'device 39 will close the circuit. After theelements 39 and 49 have been reset for the purpose of closing thecircuit, the element 57 is released so it will assume its loweredposition as shown in Figure 3.

What l claim is:

1. A current shut-off mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprising avertically movable combined retainer and shifter element, a tiltable,counter-balanced, universally shiftable holder element normallysustained in a perpendicular position, a pair of spaced contacts forinterposition in the ignition circuit of the vehicle, and a springcontrolled hinged circuit controlling device normally engaging with saidcontacts for`closing such circuit, said holder element and device havingcoacting means for releasably sustaining the former in a perpendicularposition and the latter in circuit closing position until the vehicle isjolted, and said retainer and shifting element having means forrestoring said other elements to sustaining position.

2. A current shut-ofi' mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprising avertically movable combined retainer and shifter element, a tiltable,counter-balanced, universally shiftable holder element normallysustained in a perpendicular position, a pair of spaced contacts forinterposition in the ignition circuit of the vehicle, and a springcontrolled hinged circuit controlling device normally engaging with saidcontacts for closing such circuit, said holder element and device havingcoacting mea-ns for releasably sustaining the former in a perpendicularposition and the latter in circuit closing position until the vehiclereceives a jolt, means for elevating said combined retainer and shifterelement, said device and combined retainer and shifter element havingcoacting means for restoring said device to normal position when suchelement is elevated, and said holder element and-combined retainer andshifter element having coacting means for shifting the holder element toperpendicular position when the combined retainer and holder element iselevated.

3. A current shut-ofi' mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprising anormally lowered, vertically movable combined retainer and shifterelement, a tiltable counter-balanced, universally shiftable holderelement normally sustained in a perpendicular position, a pair of spacedcontacts for interposition in the ignition circuit of the vehicle. aspring controlled, hinged circuit controlling' device normally engagingwith said contacts for closing such circuit, said holder element anddevice having coacting means for releasably sustaining the formerperpendicular and the latter in circuit closing position until thevehicle receives a sudden jolt, and said holder element and said devicehaving means engageable by said combined retainer and shifter elementfor restoring said holder element and device to sustained position whenthe retainer and shifter element is elevated.

4. A current shut-off mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprising anormally lowered vertically movable combined retainer and shifterelement, a tiltable, counter-balanced, universally shiftable holderelement normally, sustained in a perpendicular position, a pair ofspaced contacts for interposition in the ignition circuit of thevehicle. a spring controlled, hinged circuit controlling device normallyengaging with said contacts for closing such circuit, said holderelement and device having coacting means for releasably sustaining theformer in-a perpendicular position and the latter in circuit closingposition until the vehicle receives a sudlll) den jolt, said holderelelnent having a convex top, and said device having a knife edge ontarding movement of the holder element when the latter is shifting fromnormal.

5. A current shut-olf mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprising anormally lowered vertically movable combined retainer and shifterelement, a tiltable, counter-balanced, universally shiftable holderelement normally sustained in a perpendicular position, a pair of spacedcontacts for interposition in the ignition circuit of the vehicle, a

spring controlled, hinged circuit controllingl device normally engagingwith said contacts lfor closing such circuit, said holder element anddevice having coacting means for releasably sustaining the former in aperpendicular position and the latter in circuit closing position untilthe vehicle receives a sudden jolt, said holder element having a convextop, said device having a knife edge on its lower face to prevent saiddevice from retarding movement of the holder element when the latter isshifting from normal, said device and combined retainer and shifterelement having coacting means for restoring said device to normalposition when such element is elevated, said holder element and combinedretainer and shifter element having coacting 'means for shifting theholder element to perpendicular position when 'the combined retainer andholder element is elevated, said holder element having a convex top, andsaid device having a knife edge on its lower face to prevent said devicefrom retarding the movement of the holder element when the latter isshifting from normal.

6. A current shut-ofi' mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprisinga'normally lowered vertically' movable combined retainer and shifterelement, a tiltable, counter-balanced, universally shiftable holderelement lnormally sustained in a perpendicular position, a pair ofspaced contacts for interposition in the ignition circuit of thevehicle, a spring controlled, hinged circuit controlling device normallyengaging with said contacts for closing such circuit, said holderelement and device having coacting means for releasably sustaining @eformer in a perpendicular'position and the latter in circuit closingposition until the vehicle receives a sudden jolt, said holder elementhaving a convex top, said device having a knife edge on its lower face.to prevent said device from retarding movement of the holder elementwhen the latter is shifting from normal, said holder element and saiddevice having means engageable by said combined retainer and shifterelement for restoring said holder element and device to normal positionwhen the retainer and shifter element is elevated, said holder elementhaving a convex top, and said device having a knife edge on its lowerface to prevent said device from retarding the movement of the holderelement when the latter is shifting from normal.

7. A current shut-oit mechanism for moment normally sustained in aperpendicular position, a pair of spaced contacts for interposition inthe ignition circuit of the vehicle, a spring controlled, hinged circuitcontrolling device normally engaging with said contacts for closing suchcircuit, said holder element and device having coacting means forreleasably sustaining the former in a perpendicular position and thelatter in circuit closing position until the vehicle receives a suddenjolt, a fixed support to which is hinged said device, and said supportand holder element havin coacting means to provide a universal jointconnection between said element and support.

8. A current shut-off mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprising anormally lowered verticall movable combined retainer and shifter eement, a tiltable counter-balanced, universally shiftable holder elementnormally sustained in a perpendicular position, a pair of spacedcontacts for interposition in the ignition circuit of the vehicle, aspring controlled, hinged circuit controlling device normally engagingwith said contacts for closing such circuit, said holder element anddevice having coacting means for releasably sustaining the former in aperpendicular position and the latter in circuit closing position untilthe vehicle receives a sudden jolt, a fixed support to which is hingedsaid device, said support and holder element having coacting means toprovide a universal joint connection between said element and support,said holder element and said device 'having means engageable by saidcombined retainer and shifter element for restoring said holder elementand device to normal position when the retainer and shifter element iselevated, a fixed support to which is hinged said device, and saidsupport and holder ele ment having coacting means to provide a universaljoint connection between said element and support.

9. A current shut-olii` mechanism for motor driven vehicles comprising anormally lowered vertically movable combined retainer and shifterelement, a tiltable counter-balanced, universally shiftable holderelement normally sustained in a perpendicular po- 12 sudden jolt, afixed support to which is hinged 13 neeaeec said device, said supportand holder element having coacting means to provide a universal jointconnection between said element and support, a xed support to which ishinged said device, said support and holder element having coactingmeans to provide a universal joint connection between said element andsupport, and guiding means on said support for said combined retainerand shifter element.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature hereto.

THOMAS M. PAUL.

